WATCH: UK Chancellor Tears Up as Keir Starmer Skirts Question on Her Future
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves was seen wiping away tears in the House of Commons on Wednesday as Prime Minister Keir Starmer skirted a question about whether she would remain in the role through to the next election.
The emotional moment, which came during Prime Minister’s Questions, has added fuel to growing speculation over her future, flames eagerly fanned by Conservative opponents.
The flashpoint came as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch launched a scathing attack, accusing Starmer of “using” Reeves as a “human shield… to hide his own incompetence.”
Badenoch continued, claiming Labour MPs were openly saying “the chancellor is toast.”
Starmer deflected the question, telling Badenoch she “certainly won’t” be in office after the election, without addressing Reeves’ status.
Behind him, the Chancellor sat grim-faced as the exchange unfolded, tears visibly rolling down her face. Her sister, Labour minister Ellie Reeves, was seen holding her hand as she exited the chamber.
As the clip went viral, however, Starmer’s press office released a statement to insist Reeves “is going nowhere” and still has the Prime Minister’s “full backing.” A spokesperson later said Reeves’ upset was over “a personal matter,” and confirmed she would continue working from Downing Street that afternoon.
The scenes came amid the political fallout from Labour’s climbdown on welfare reforms. Starmer was forced to amend key proposals under pressure from backbench MPs, shelving plans to restrict social security payments until after a lengthy review.
Watch above via GB News.
